Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. à trois chardons fleuris de trois pièces de sin.; au chef d'or, ch. d'une aigle de sa.”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Caradonna family of Spain.
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“D'arg. à trois chardons fleuris de trois pièces de sin.; au chef d'or, ch. d'une aigle de sa.”

The Caradonna arms were recorded in Spain, c. 1722.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Castile.
Castile was the heart of Spain and the source of most of its noble families. Land won in the long wars against the Moors was granted out to fighting men, and a man granted land was granted arms along with it.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
In Spain, a coat of arms was considered a form of property that belonged to the entire family line. These arms were passed down from a father to all his children equally. Younger branches of the family usually kept the original design without needing to add any special marks to distinguish their specific line.
The surname Caradonna is rooted in the linguistic traditions of the Mediterranean, likely emerging from a combination of terms that suggest a lineage of distinction or physical prominence. While the name is often associated with Italian origins, historical records confirm that members of the family were firmly established in the region of Castile, Spain, by 1722. During this period, families with this name were often involved in the social and administrative shifts occurring within the Spanish crown. As the family moved through these territories, they integrated into local communities by participating in trade and land management. This migration pattern reflects the broader movement of people across Southern Europe during the eighteenth century, where families frequently relocated to seek new opportunities in emerging urban centers. By maintaining their identity across borders, the early Caradonna family members helped preserve their heritage while adapting to the cultural landscape of the Iberian Peninsula.
Latin for dear or beloved and woman or lady.
